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A. Wilson, pencil and watercolor, n.d. Historical Society of Pennsylvania (coll. 175, box 308, folder 44). Photo by M. Halley.IMAGE INFORMATION

Savannah Sparrow (mounted taxidermy)

Object Status:

Unlocated

Accession Date:

By 1811

Primary Source Reference:

Alexander Wilson (1811). American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States: illustrated with plates engraved and colored from original drawings taken from nature. Volume 3, Plate 22. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, Robert Carr / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/67/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/60/mode/1up (plate)

Additional Source Text:

Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Savannah Sparrow / Fringilla savanna" in American Ornithology vol. 3 (Pl. 22), where "Peale's Museum, No. 6584" was cited (Wilson 1811: 55).

Wilson's original drawing (shown here), which was engraved by Alexander Lawson (ca.1772-1846) for Plate 22 (1811), is extant in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (Ferdinand J. Dreer autograph collection, HSP coll. 175, box 308, folder 44).

In American Ornithology vol. 4 (Pl. 34), published the same year, Wilson (1811: 72) described a male of unspecified provenance, of which he wrote: "A pair of these I presented to Mr. Peale of this city, in whose noble collection they now occupy a place." / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175531#page/90/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175531#page/83/mode/1up (plate)

Specimen Type:

Dead/preserved

Peale's Common Name:

Savannah Sparrow (Wilson's name)

Peale's Scientific Name:

Fringilla savana (Wilson's name)

Current Common Name:

Savannah Sparrow

Current Scientific Name

Passerellidae | Passerculus sandwichensis